Appliance for adding to the record speed of vessels.



No. 884,936. PATENTED'APR. 14,1908.

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No. 884,936. I PATENTE'D APR.'14, 1908.

w. LAUDAHN.

APPLIANUB FOR- ADDING TO THE 115001111 SPEED OF VESSELS.

APPLIOAIION FILED, AUG. 21, 1907.

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" i Euro)? w/rA/EssEs l V A'I'TOBNEYS- WILLIAM LAUDAHN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPLIANCE FOR ADDING- TO THE RECORD SPEED OF VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed. August 21, 1907. Serial No. 389,489.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAUDAHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Appliance for Adding to the Record Speed of Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an appliance for vessels whereby an increased speed, 'i. e. an additional speed is added to the otherwise best speed performance of the boat.

It consists, in the main, of a system of pipe or other conduits which are placed upon the exteriorof the submerged portion of the hull, said pipes leading from a tank or reservoir placed within the hold of the vessel. The tank or reservoir contains an oil, emulsion or like liquid having no or but little aflinity for water. The oil, etc., by means of the apparatus, is ejected in minute quantities and distributed to the submerged portion of the hull, thereby materially reducing the friction as the boat plies through the Water, in addition to preventing the hull from fouling to a considerable extent.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters" of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor boat with one embodiment of my appliance applied thereto, the side of said boat being partly broken away to more clearly disclose the interior construction; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan of the boat; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective 2 are laterally disposed branch pipes 3 each view of a fragment of the appliance.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a tank .1 which is to contain an oil, emulsion or other liquid having little aflinity, if any, for water. This tank is connected with a pipe system which preferably comprises a perforated pipe 2 of copper or other suitable material, arranged longitudinally of the boat at o posite sides of the keel and for about twot 'rds of its length. Leading from the pipe having a slot 4 at one side extended substantially its entire length, the pipe being braced at suitable points 5 of the slot in order that the edges of the 'slot may be maintained a uniform distance apart. The longitudinal pipes 2, as also the branch pipes 4, are secured at intervals'to the hull of the boat by clamps or straps 6, which clamps as applied to the branch pipes not only rigidly connect them with the boat, but also act to strengthen them at the points of application. These branch pipes may be flattened, if desired, or countersunk into the hull of the boat, whereby the resistance which they offer to the water v is reduced to a minimum.

Leading from the tank 1 to the pipes 2 through a branch connection 7, is a pipe 8',

the latter being provided with a controlling 1 valve 9 arranged near the tank, and a force pump 10 arranged at a point beyond the valve. This force pump may, if the appliance is applied to a steamship, motor boat or other power craft, be directly driven from the motor, as illustrated in the drawings or in any other preferred manner. Also arranged in the length of the pipe 8 is a hand-pum 11 and a check-valve 12 situated interme iate the hand-pump and the perforated pipe 2.

The hand-pump 11 may be'used in connection with the force pump 8 as when the appliance is fitted to a power craft to augment the flow of the fluid through the perforated pipe system, it, however, being more desirable and essential when the appliance is used in connection with a sailing vessel or other craft, depending for its propulsion on other than motive mean's. The tankl in this form of craft is also arranged at a higher elevation than in a motor boat, whereby the oil will flow through the perforated pipe by gravity alone.

In the operation of the appliance, as the oil or other fluid having little affinity for water is ejected through the perforated pipe system while-the boat is in motion, it escapes where disruption occurs between the wet surface of the hull and the body of water in which the boat is moving. As the liquid ejected does not combine with the water, it interferes with the I cohesion between the Water adhering to the surface of the hull and the adjacent body of water, thus forming a rent or rupture in the water and permitting the boat to slide therethrough with the least possible friction.

It is of utmost importance that the perforated pipe be placed in a manner to direct the ejected oil at this ruptured space, the oil being effective -only when occupying said space, otherwise the disruption is momentary only, the severed molecules of water being mutual and instantaneously influenced again. A molecule of water is known to be influenced only at an inconceivably small distance the ejected oil etc., when conveyed to and present at this ruptured space, even in smallest conceivable quantities, prevents the severed molecules of water from being mutually and instantaneously influenced again. Although the appliance as shown and described is the preferred practical embodiment of my invention, it is, nevertheless, apparent that the same may be variously modified within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a vessel, a pipe system comprising transversely arranged branch pipes conforming to the exterior of the hull thereof at the opposite sides of the keel, and provided with discharge openings, perforated pipes for supplying the branch pipes, longitudinally arranged contiguous to and at the opposite sides of the keel, and means for supplying the perforated pipes with an oily fluid.

2. In combination with a vessel, transversely arranged branch pipes conforming to and carried. upon the outside of the hull at the opposite sides of the keel, and provided with narrow discharge slots, perforated pipes for supplying the branch pipes, longitudinally arranged contiguous to and at the opposite sides of the keel, and means for supplying the perforated pipes with an oily fluid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM LAUDAII N WVitnesses I/V. M. ADMAN, G. F. SMITH. 

